Policy/System-Level Perspective on the Role of Governments in Creating Enabling Environments for Equitable and Scalable Transnational Education (TNE) and Other Academic Partnerships

Thank you for the invitation to contribute to this discussion. It is a privilege to offer insights into the vital role that governments can play in creating enabling environments for Transnational Education (TNE) and academic partnerships. As a regulator within the tertiary education sector in Ghana, I will focus on how the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), alongside other African governments, plays a key role in facilitating these relationships and ensuring their scalability and equitable impact.

The Role of Government in Fostering Enabling Environments

Transnational Education (TNE), where educational institutions collaborate across borders to offer degrees, programs, or certifications, is an important mechanism for addressing educational gaps and ensuring global access to quality education. In Africa, TNE has the potential to increase access to higher education while also promoting academic excellence and fostering international partnerships. However, for TNE to flourish in an equitable and scalable manner, governments must take an active role in creating enabling environments.

1.     Policy Development and Regulatory Frameworks

Governments must develop clear, coherent, and adaptable policies that facilitate TNE. This includes the establishment of regulatory frameworks that are both supportive and flexible enough to accommodate the diverse nature of international partnerships. In Ghana, for instance, GTEC is mandated to oversee higher education institutions and ensure their alignment with national educational goals. As part of this role, GTEC works closely with international agencies to ensure that foreign degree programmes offered in Ghana meet the country’s standards of academic quality, accreditation, and relevance to local needs.

It is essential for governments to establish legal frameworks that promote academic freedom, protect intellectual property, and uphold the integrity of academic qualifications awarded through Transnational Education (TNE) partnerships. To ensure the effectiveness and reach of these frameworks, governments should actively collaborate on regional initiatives that support the mutual recognition of academic qualifications and facilitate seamless mobility for students and staff.

A key example of such collaboration is the Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework (PAQAF), a major initiative by the African Union aimed at harmonizing and enhancing quality assurance across the continent. PAQAF comprises tools and commitments such as the African Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ASG-QA) and the African Quality Rating Mechanism (AQRM), which collectively work to elevate educational standards, promote mobility across borders, and strengthen the recognition of qualifications earned through TNE programs.

2.     Infrastructure and Technological Investment

The successful implementation of TNE relies heavily on digital infrastructure and technology. Governments must make significant investments in building reliable digital infrastructure to support the delivery of online and blended learning models. Access to the internet, reliable electricity, and digital tools are critical for students who may be engaged in TNE programmes, particularly in rural or underprivileged areas. Ghana is enhancing ICT infrastructure for flexible education at the tertiary level through projects like the Ghana Knowledge and Skills Bank (GKSB), which provides offline access to educational materials. The Government is also focusing on broadband and data centre expansion to improve digital services, alongside university-specific initiatives such as classroom modernization, laptop provision for needy students, and campus internet hotspot development. 

To strengthen the foundation for equitable and scalable Transnational Education (TNE), governments should incentivize universities and institutions to engage in research and development, particularly in areas such as online learning platforms, digital content creation, and technological tools that support transnational collaboration. In Ghana, the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) presents a strategic opportunity to advance this agenda. By providing targeted funding for research initiatives that align with global academic trends and technological innovation, the GNRF can empower local institutions to co-develop solutions with international partners, thereby enhancing the relevance and accessibility of TNE programmes. This support not only fosters innovation but also positions Ghanaian institutions as active contributors to global knowledge networks, ensuring that TNE partnerships are both reciprocal and impactful.

3.     Funding and Financial Support

While TNE holds promise for enhancing access to higher education, the affordability and financial sustainability of such programmes remain key challenges. Governments should explore funding models that make TNE programmes accessible to all sectors of society, especially disadvantaged groups. Scholarships, government-backed student loans, and partnerships with development organizations or private institutions can help mitigate the costs of transnational education.

In Ghana, we have seen collaborations with international agencies to support higher education through various grant schemes. However, governments need to increase the level of investment in student financial aid for TNE initiatives to make higher education more inclusive. Additionally, the government can play a role in encouraging the private sector to support TNE through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, targeting students from marginalized backgrounds.

4.     Quality Assurance and Accreditation

Quality assurance is a cornerstone of higher education and is even more critical when dealing with cross-border academic partnerships. Governments must take responsibility for ensuring that transnational programmes meet national standards of quality, relevance, and academic integrity. GTEC works closely with both local and foreign institutions to maintain the quality of academic offerings. This involves overseeing accreditation processes, monitoring institutions for compliance, and engaging in capacity-building programmes to ensure that all institutions, whether foreign or local, uphold high academic standards.

Moreover, governments should support mutual accreditation agreements between countries to ensure that qualifications earned through TNE partnerships are recognized globally. This also entails establishing national accreditation agencies capable of evaluating both domestic and international programmes to maintain a consistent standard of education.

5.     Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

Governments must also actively engage key stakeholders - such as universities, industry leaders, students, and community representatives - in the development and implementation of TNE policies. This inclusive approach ensures that the programs being offered through TNE partnerships align with national priorities, local workforce needs, and student aspirations.

In Ghana, we have seen the Government’s focus on building partnerships between universities and industry. This is particularly important in the context of TNE, where academic institutions should work with the private sector to ensure that education and training programmes are not only globally competitive but also locally relevant.

6.     Promoting Mutuality in TNE Partnerships

Governments must work to ensure that TNE partnerships are mutually beneficial, not just a one-way transfer of knowledge from the global North to the South. Governments should encourage academic institutions to develop reciprocal partnerships that foster the exchange of knowledge, research, and resources. These partnerships should contribute to capacity building in both regions, ensuring that local stakeholders benefit from TNE not just as consumers of foreign education but also as contributors to the global academic dialogue.

Conclusion

To sum up, the role of governments in creating enabling environments for equitable and scalable TNE is multifaceted and requires a comprehensive, forward-looking approach. Through the development of robust policies, investments in digital infrastructure, increased financial support for students, a commitment to quality assurance, active stakeholder engagement, and the promotion of mutually beneficial partnerships, governments can ensure that TNE fulfills its transformative potential.

As we move towards the end of 2025 and beyond, it is imperative that African governments, including Ghana, continue to lead the charge in shaping policies that promote access to higher education through international collaborations. By doing so, we can ensure that higher education remains a powerful tool for economic growth, social development, and cultural exchange across Africa and the globe.

Thank you.